An-Najah Staff

Very limited efforts have been applied to improving traffic safety in Palestinian cities. Therefore, establishing a traffic safety program is essential to achieving this purpose. The main component of this program that was the focus of this study is the planning component, which includes collecting and maintaining accident data, identifying hazardous locations, conducting safety studies, and establishing priorities. Appropriate procedures and forms for collecting and maintaining accident data for Palestinian cities were identified. The police accident report form is the most important source to create the accident database. The existing police report is inappropriate for traffic engineering purposes. It was designed for the purposes of police and insurance agencies. A new comprehensive police accident report was designed in this study. A new computer program was also developed as a step towards a computerized system of data recording and filing. Procedures and thresholds values for identifying hazardous locations were established for the largest Palestinian city, Nablus, based on the available accident data records. The expected value statistical method was used as an appropriate tool to determine critical values for identifying hazardous locations based on the accident number-rate technique. Threshold values for identifying hazardous locations for various classes of highways/intersections were also established. Procedures, forms, and steps for conducting safety studies were proposed in this study based on modified international experiences to fit local conditions. The methodology for establishing project priorities was established based on the benefit/cost. The average accident cost by type was proposed in the study based on the records of Palestinian insurance companies. The results of this research showed that Palestinian cities are in a dire need for adopting and implementing a traffic safety program. Therefore, it is recommended that the related Palestinian agencies take the proper steps, and this study is an appropriate guide.